Hubble telescope captures the host galaxy of a supernova – ESA / HUBBLE & NASA, S. SMARTT ET AL.
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MADRID, 21 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) –
This NASA / ESA Hubble Space Telescope image shows the spectacular galaxy NGC 2442, nicknamed the ‘butcher hook’ galaxy because of its extremely asymmetrical and irregular shape.
This galaxy was the site of a supernova explosion detected in March 2015, known as SN 2015F, which was created by a white dwarf star. The white dwarf was part of a binary star system and drew mass from its companion, eventually becoming too greedy and taking on more than it could handle.
This threw the star out of balance and triggered uncontrolled nuclear fusion that eventually led to an intensely violent supernova explosion.
The supernova glowed brightly for quite some time and was easily visible from Earth even through a small telescope until months later.
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